Watching his retreating back, my chest felt so tight that I couldn''t breathe. Thest time he left me like this was when we were out of town..


    He had taken me to the hospital to change the bandage on my neck, and I could not find him when I came out. Was he also trying to distance himself then because he was about to lose control of his emotions? an who was th


    I could not understand that feeling of being on the verge of losing control. But for a man used to controlling everything, it was probably unbearable.


    I suddenly felt a little regretful. Given Nichs''s current state, I should not have argued with him. I had not gone out these past few days to keep an eye on him, so I was afraid he would take the pills again.


    Now that he had locked himself in the study, those days of effort might have been wasted. The doctor said the side effects of the medication were severe. I hurried over only to find that the doorknob would not tum. Nichs had locked it from the inside. "Open the door." I pressed myself against the door. I tried to hear what Nichs was doing inside, but he did not respond.


    Clenching my fists tightly, I tried making my voice sound pitiful. "If you don''t open the door, I''m going out. There''s no one to keep mepany at home anyway."


    As soon as I finished speaking, the door flew open. I looked up and met Nichs'' gaze. To my surprise, I saw a hint of nervousness and panic in his dark pupils.


    He held me very tightly, ufortably so. I could only stand on tiptoe in his embrace. I knew he did not want me to leave even though he did not speak.


    Over his shoulder, I could see an uncapped water ss and a pill box hastily hidden under his documents.


    At that moment, it felt as if we had briefly reconciled. Our earlier argument seemed to have never happened.


    The name "udia Quirk" became the only taboo between us. Before, we could still mention her asionally. But now, neither of us wanted to bring up those three words.


    Nichs carried me to the bedroom andid me on the bed. When couples fight, no one could resist passionate lovemaking. However, strictly speaking, he and I were not even a couple.


    Iforted myself this way too,


    thinking there was no need to be angry with him over udia anymore. Nichs seemed to understand this principle as well. He seized the opportunity, kissing me breathlessly.


    He grabbed my hand and ced it on his body as he encouraged me to caress him. His voice was hoarse and seductive.


    "Ariana, tell me you need me too."


    His beautiful ck eyes flickered. Unlike the intense possessiveness when he used to look at me, they now showed extreme insecurity. He always gave me this strong illusion that I was his medicine. I stroked his head before pulling him towards me. I pressed my lips to his ear and whispered suggestively.


    Perhaps because of the medication,


    Nichs''s mood had been very low.


    He used to be ever more vigorous


    and was able to shower and cooket


    after we finished, but he was now lying sleeping on the bed. He slept deeply. I removed his hand from my waist. My showering and changing clothes did not wake him


    et all


    I found Daniel''s ward. A caregiver was tending to him by his bed, while Frances was nowhere to be seen. Daniel looked haggard as if he had aged much more than when Ist saw him. He had been under e professional care, staying in such a nice hospital room, and using the world''s best specialty medications. Yet, it still could not relieve him from the torment of illness.Têxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    The caregiver asionally asked for his opinion while tending to him. He respondedzily without any of The energy he had when speaking to me on the phone. Nichs'' skill at disguising his emotions had probably been inherited from him. If I had not seen this weak side of him, I would have thought he was doing just fine.


    I pushed open the door and entered the ward. Daniel looked very surprised to see me. In an instant, his face broke into a kindly smile as he beckoned me over.


    I went over and adjusted the pillow behind him so he could sit morefortably. Then I pulled up a chair next to his bed.


    "Tell me about Nichs when he was little."